Aberystwyth University: Up to 200 jobs could be cut, says MS

Ms Jones told BBC Radio Cymru that the wider impact on Aberystwyth could be significant.

“The union within the university estimate there can be between a hundred and fifty and two hundred jobs (under threat).

“Voluntary redundancies is an important first step, and hopefully we will not have to move to compulsory redundancies which is something completely different.

“The impact on a town like Aberystwyth, an area like Ceredigion is significant. The university is extremely important economically to the economic structure of the county.”

The deputy mayor of Aberystwyth, Maldwyn Pryse, said the news created “uncertainty not only in the university but also in the town”.

Last month, Swansea University announced a series of job cuts due to “financial challenges”.

A spokesperson said 189 workers had successfully applied for voluntary redundancy since September.

The University of South Wales also announced that it was offering voluntary redundancies in order to make financial savings.

The Welsh government said it recognised “the financial pressure on higher education institutions”, adding that “the Cabinet Secretary for Education engages regularly and constructively with sector leaders on this”.